Family reeling as 16-year-old victim of alleged sword-and-SUV attack remains in hospital

The family of a 16-year-old from a small northern Ontario community, who was seriously injured when her ex-boyfriend allegedly hit her with his vehicle and then attacked her with a sword, say the past week has been a “big blur.”

Kaylie Smith remains in hospital in Ottawa with serious injuries, but is in stable condition.

“It’s just like a big blur. It doesn’t seem real,” said Cindy Smith, Kaylie’s mother.

Officers responded to a collision involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian in Cobalt, Ont. — about 500 kilometres northwest of Ottawa — on Nov. 3, according to Const. Martin Thibault of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). 

When they arrived, Thibault says they found an 18-year-old had driven an SUV into Smith, who had just got off the bus, and then attacked her with a sword.

Thibault added that witnesses helped Smith until emergency responders arrived.

Smith’s ex-boyfriend, Phillipe Gagnon, was arrested within an hour of the attack and remains in custody. He faces several charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

OPP are treating the incident as intimate partner violence. 

‘Doesn’t seem real’ to mom 

Smith’s family has been in Ottawa by her side in hospital since she was airlifted to the city.

“One minute we’re living life, and the next minute we’re here at the hospital, fighting for her life. I just don’t get it,” Cindy said.

She described her daughter as a “beautiful, wonderful girl” who loves animals and drawing.

“I just thank God she’s alive, and I sure hope there’s justice for this,” she said. “Nobody deserves to go through this.”

A handful of family members have been in the city to support Kaylie, including her cousin Paige Smith.

Paige bounced between two hotels before securing a place to stay for the “foreseeable future” with help from the community.

“It’s just been a blur,” Paige said. “When everything happened, we kind of dropped everything and headed down, worried about the consequences afterwards. You don’t really think about yourself in these moments. It’s just auto-pilot — doing what needs to be done.”

An online fundraiser to support the family’s stay in the city and Kaylie’s long recovery has raised close to $100,000. A candlight vigil was also held over the weekend.

Accused known to police

Protesters gathered outside the Haileybury courthouse on Tuesday morning ahead of bail proceedings for Gagnon. They carried signs reading “Justice for Kaylie” and “No Bail.”

OPP confirmed Gagnon previously had dealings with police.

Court records show he assaulted Smith’s stepfather in May and received a conditional sentence and probation in October — just days before he allegedly attacked Smith.

His conditions included a prohibition on possessing weapons.

Kaylee Kennedy, one of the protesters outside the courthouse, said the situation has been heartbreaking.

“Domestic violence is no joke. To go through something like that, her whole life has changed, and that breaks my heart,” Kennedy said. “She’s never going to be the same again.”